In this tutorial, we're going to create an icey-cold effect using layer styles and that you can apply to different objects. Then we'll put it on a nice background to give it some kick. You can download the PSD file at the bottom of the tutorial if you'd simply like to copy+paste the layer styles.
Step 1:
We start as always with a background gradient. I've used a Radial Gradient with two shades of a nice blue. Blues are good for this effect because they look cold...
Foreground color - #282c54
Background color - #0a0d2e
Step 2:
Now for our background effect, we're going to add a starburst. This produces a cool retro-looking effect. So go to the shapes palette and look for the shape pictured. It looks weird in the preview, but that is in fact the Starburst icon.
Step 3:
So in a new layer using white, draw out the shape. Note that you need to make it bigger than your stage because it is in fact a wheel and the edges of the wheel look dumb. So make it really large and centered and white.
Step 4:
Now change the opacity to 10% and set it to Overlay. Then grab a big soft brush and erase a bit of the center, this gives the effect that its fading in from nothing.
Step 5:
Finally I've written my text. I've used the font Kabel Bold, because it has a really fun, blocky feel. Fat fonts like this are great for doing effects on because there's lots of room to play. I've placed the text carefully so that the letters are quite close to each other and the n is bunched up in a nice little space.
Working with text is actually a hallmark of good design and is one of the key ways that designers judge how good another designer is. Although subtle, it's worth observing how other designers place text on posters, signs, and billboards around you. Look for spacing between letters, lines, sizing, and general placement. You can in fact do a lot just with typography.
Step 6:
Now the main effect in this tutorial is achieved by adding a whole bunch of layer styles. I won't bore you by detailing each one. Just download the PSDs from the link at the top right and right-click on the layer and select Copy Layer Style. Then you can just paste it around. Make sure the text is white and note that the effect works best on a dark background.
Just to describe the effect that we are trying to achieve, because you want it to look cold, we use white and shades of light blue. Blues, particularly lighter ones, look very chilly, and using a clever bevel we can make it look like the light blues are in fact shadows on these blockey ice letters.
Finally, because we're doing a kind of comic ice, I've used a block shadow. So if you look at the shadow effect you'll see it doesn't actually blur out. This makes for a non-realistic comic look, particularly when combined with this sort of font.
Step 7:
And there it is!
Sample PSD
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Rachelle September 15th
I’m sorry, this might be an ignorant question, but WHERE is the PSD I download for the layer style?
( )sfga August 23rd
at the bottom
( )Julia September 15th
Great tutorial! thank you!
( )Rob September 15th
I really like this site, just found about it. I noticed that there aren’t that many comments yet and thought you might appreciate the support.
( )Collis September 15th
Sorry Rachelle, not ignorant at all, the file wasn’t there
It is now though!
I’m still upgrading the site, so there’s parts missing. Right now I’m going through adding all the samples back in!
( )Carlos September 16th
I tried downloading it, but when I opened it, twas the tut for the glow psd. Maybe some wrong link?
( )Travis S. September 17th
Hey this have been a hit. When do you think you will be able to update the PSD’s to the correct downloads so I can further practice the art of Photoshop
( )Wydblog September 17th
jajajaja que buen tutorial, me encanto! muchas gracias,
Saludos,
Lucas.
( )Max September 20th
I cannot for the life of me find the shapes palette..
( )Yumminy September 22nd
Discovered this website only recently. Great tutorials!
Max,
If you click the Custom shape tool, it gives you an option to select other shapes. You may have to click the little option arrow and choose to view all shapes in order to see the starburst.
( )Zac September 23rd
Nice work, and its the shortest ive seen here nic work
( )dy September 25th
this is fantastic, its even better than books
( )harsh September 29th
This is a very useful & helpful tutoril. thanks my dear.
( )Otmar September 30th
Hi,
Please do not laugh, I can not find this shape pallet (got Photoshop CS3).
Thanks for the grat tut.
( )Jeff October 1st
It’s right after step 7 under the picture. It says in white Sample PSD. There is a button link right below that to download that.
( )Froy October 2nd
Simple, easy and fun!!! Thanks!!!
( )Finzaiko October 7th
cool..!!, thx bro
( )brian October 9th
it looks like you did some advanced layer styling. It might not be a bad idea to go into detail on what styles you did and why you did it. good style though.
( )Nick Toye October 11th
Thise blue hex values are not consistent with your background gradient, they are very dark and not cold at all.
( )Nick Toye October 11th
Well actually it looks like the psd file but not the image you have posted.
( )Nick Toye October 13th
I see you deleted my last comment, well that’s up to you. But I do feel that this tutorial lacks some clarity.
The Starburst effect in particular.
( )BALAKRISHNA October 15th
great experience being film publicity designer thanks for the trick
( )David October 20th
I haven’t got all these shapes, where can I get them?
( )Yojimbo October 23rd
The shape tool I see many is asking about is “Custom Shape Tool” or fastkey U. Just wanted to make that clear
, other than that, really nice tutorials. Keep up the good work m8
( )Paulo November 1st
We start as always with a background gradient. I’ve used a Radial Gradient with two shades !! Where can i do this ?
( )Adi November 2nd
Please, writing tutorial – 3d logo with texture, gradients – for PS
( )Thankful Reader November 7th
Hey, I just wanted to say “Thanks” for a great tutorial. Yeah, the custom shape thing threw me, but I figured it out (Click on the disclosure triangle and opt to add all the symbols). Some of the whiners here need to roll their sleeves up and dig into their software a bit deeper. Use “Help” for instance?
Anyway, thanks a ton. I used the technique on a logo today, modified to fit my circumstances.
( )Jon November 15th
Great tutorial. Excellent site – high production values and beautiful work.
Thanks!
( )Jon
Lynne November 23rd
This is exactly what I need for a postcard that I need to make!
( )Rubab December 1st
The link for the PSD File is not working.
( )Iris February 4th
Cool tutorial!
As Rubab said, the link for the PSD file doesn’t work, so I applied the layer styles all bij myself
( )I also added a texture, so the letters would look even icier
Jakobb March 30th
aWESOME effect! i’m going to use this for my son’s ice-skating birthday party invitation
( )clair April 9th
this is so cool! amazing and simple!
( )i love it!
Rybaxs April 26th
photoshop is so powerful…
( )Jeff P May 4th
Very nice. I appreciate the experience. I will be signing up for the PSDTUTS Plus. Thanks, Jeff
( )Danny May 25th
Ohhh this is a great font style… must save it
( )Anterr June 6th
Nice and simple. Good work.
( )RM June 24th
How do i get the shapes palette open? I cant find the sod ! I even took the very extreme step of opening the help file in Photoshop… But to no answear…. Anyone?
( )I see a few people have said the same
RM June 24th
stupid just found a comment that says its hit U! Thanks for the great tut!
( )Hugh July 13th
I like the typography and background, the layer styles fail though
( )Mack Altman III July 31st
I just wanted to make a comment about the tutorial. The effect that you’re trying to achieve is great; however, the directions you give are unclear. When writing a tutorial be sure that you give a screen shot of each style blending option that you are applying to the fonts, or simply type it out. It’s hard to achieve the result that you’ve shown by guessing your moves.
Then later show something that you “personally” did. Maybe you changed some things, and you could say so I played around and came out with this if you’re trying to show your talent. But trying to show talent in the tutorial isn’t the goal, you want to show them something and how to do it so that they can follow it step by step to achieve the objective.
It’s like showing someone who’s never made a PB&J sandwich and saying I put these two slices of bread, this jar of peanut butter, and this jar of jelly and came up with it. They’d be lost at how everything got put together.
As far as the effect, it’s very nice looking, but I’d work on re-writing it so that others can follow it.
( )Kevin August 29th
Even after Pressing U, I couldn’t find the shape. I found hte custom shape, but I only had about 20 different shapes, is there something I’m missing?
( )Mike September 18th
Kevin, after pressing U click on the arrow near the shapes and click the next small arrow and click “select all”
( )Sertac November 9th
How can i configure this ?
Foreground colour – #282c54
( )Background colour – #0a0d2e
Curt November 30th
That’s great! =D
( )qoyyim December 1st
this tutor for logo to my friend .thx sob
( )Jamal December 15th
The download link doesn’t work at all for me
Server time out
( )Chris December 15th
Cant seem to access the psd for this, any one have a working link?
( )Jesse January 25th
I agree that this tutorial is unclear and too short.
In the PSD file, there are different style layer for each of the SNOW, ‘n’, and ICE. I tried each layer style, none came close to as shown in this tutorial. I even applied all three layer styles and it was a disaster.
A good tutorial consists of word by word in each step with supplied screenshot. This tutorial is definately in need of a major revision.
I will continue to work with this, but if everything fails, then Google search for a similar effect. Maybe an author have a more detailed tutorial of this same project is out there.
( )qinglou March 8th
so good i love it and thx
( )Joy March 8th
Great tutorial! Thank you!
( )Frank March 18th
I agree with several of the previous posters. You really need to go into detail about the values and colors you used for each of the layer effects. As for you other posters, get over your shape tool problems. The reason for this tutorial is the text effects
( )Andre April 18th
how can I find shape palette command?? pls help!
( )Mark May 20th
Great tut, Will use this for sure
But you need to be more clear in the steps mate
( )flashfs May 27th
I don’t think if you detail all the steps (with explanations) you will bother. Instead, begginers like me can understand better the process, not just paste the styles =/
( )G June 16th
THANK YOU, great tutorial. I love the font and willl use it!
( )Alguien August 4th
Collis usted es un gran artista.
( )Kaplang August 10th
thank you, another great tutorial
( )kArla August 20th
I’ve proposed to myself to do every tutorial of photoshop of psd tuts, and this is my second one!
I had the same problem of some others of being unable to find the starburst, and here is what I found. Here is a link to a site that explains how to make different ones, and I think includes the one that is used in this tut…. which I think is really the “registration target 2″.
http://www.mintyferret.com/photoshop/starburst-tutorial/
I know it is a link to other site… but ir resolved my question, so I hope it’s ok!
( )cory September 12th
perfect thank you. i always wanted to know how to make a good starburst.
( )Sqi 8000 November 3rd
A lovely tutorial, Thank you
( )